Wisconsin AHEC
Program Objectives, 2002-2005

The Wisconsin AHEC system has been most successful by using its limited resources to focus on innovative programs, leveraging the resources of our academic and community partners to address the AHEC mission. This proposal for 2002-2005 does not represent a major change in our focus. Rather, we have reviewed our activities to date, clearly identified our key program areas, and focused on specific objectives that reflect emerging health care needs. The four Wisconsin AHEC Centers and the statewide program office have developed proposals to address these priorities. Although we realize funding may be limited, we are submitting a proposal for projects justified by our available matching funds (a $1.154 million line item appropriation from the State of Wisconsin). As the overall federal funding level for Model AHEC is often uncertain at the time of proposal development, we continually reassess the need and potential efficacy of various programs in order to make the best use of the funds that do become available. When the final funding level is known, Center Directors and their Boards review their proposals and select their highest priority programs. Some projects may be deferred to the second or third year of the grant.

The Wisconsin AHEC System activities will focus on four main program areas during the next three years. Depending upon the availability of additional state funds, the Wisconsin AHEC Board may also designate several Statewide Initiatives to focus attention and additional resources on key areas of concern. These Statewide Initiatives are reviewed annually. A combination of state, institutional and other funding sources will support our core operations and ongoing programming as detailed in the consolidated budget statements. Federal model funding is requested only for new programs and continuing development of programs initiated with our first Model AHEC grant (1999-2002). The specific programs listed in the Methodology section were developed through a collaborative planning process with the Wisconsin AHEC System Board, the regional Boards and our community and academic partners. They represent the areas identified as most important in addressing state and national health and educational priorities.

Federal Model AHEC funding will be directed primarily to three program areas:

1. Enhancing the learning experience for all health professions students at community-based sites, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary programs, developing cultural competence, and technology support.
2. Supporting health careers recruitment programs, to assist high school and college students to prepare for entry into health professions schools and careers, with particular emphasis on under-represented populations and underserved areas.
3. Supporting health professionals, especially mentors and preceptors at community-based training sites, with continuing education, technology support and other services to enhance the practice environment and maximize the ability of health professionals in underserved communities to provide high quality health care.

A combination of state and federal funding is used in a fourth program area:


4. Partnering with local organizations for outreach activities to improve the health of the community.

Depending upon the availability of additional state funds, the Wisconsin AHEC Board may also designate several Statewide Initiatives to focus attention and additional resources on key areas of concern. These statewide programs are reviewed annually. Current statewide initiatives include oral health, innovative programs with local health departments and healthcare workforce. A combination of state, institutional and other funding sources will support our core operations and ongoing programming as detailed in the consolidated budget statements.

The outlook for self-sufficiency for Wisconsin AHEC is excellent: the programs selected for model funding are weighted heavily to those that require development activities. When new programming is up and running, the Wisconsin AHEC System has demonstrated that these programs can be sustained through the balanced funding support that is maintaining our basic programming portfolio. The regional Centers and Wisconsin AHEC System have successfully cultivated strong state funding support, increasing institutional support, and new sources of external funds through grants and contracts in recent years. The Wisconsin AHEC System, wherever possible, has used federal funds for start up or new program development costs, helping to transition ongoing program maintenance to institutional or state support. The programs selected for Model funding were chosen not only because they address specific state and federal needs, but because they have higher early development needs with excellent potential for future sustainability once they are implemented.

Specific objectives with anticipated, measurable outcomes are specified in the proposal with details of the methods and projects to be implemented to achieve the goals. Program evaluation is described, building on our current Wisconsin AHEC System and academic partners evaluation and tracking systems, to report quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the Model funding projects.

We are confident that Model AHEC funding for 2002-2005 will provide the Wisconsin AHEC System with the margin of excellence for programs to enhance the education of Wisconsin health professions students and improve the health of the citizens of Wisconsin.

• extend AHEC activities to social service and public health agencies
• enhance the diversity of the discussion by involving a cross section of providers and agencies
• better disseminate resources we have

• strengthen existing health centers
• assist communities in development of new health centers
• assist health centers in developing capacity as training sites

Program Area 2
Supporting health careers recruitment programs, to assist high school and college students to prepare for entry into health professions schools and careers, with particular emphasis on under-represented populations and underserved areas.

Objectives
2.1 Expand partnerships with employers, professional organizations and statewide consortia involved in health careers recruitment activities
2.2 Expand activities in elementary and middle schools, technical colleges and with returning adult students
2.3 Continue to address training needs of broader range of health careers
2.4 Develop programs to address emerging work force needs

Program Area 3
Supporting health professionals, especially mentors and preceptors at community-based training sites, with continuing education, technology support and other services to enhance the practice environment and maximize the ability of health professionals in underserved communities to provide high quality health care.

Objectives
3.1 Expand continuing education for health professional organizations, including FQHC/CHC staff, focusing on the areas of cultural competence, mental health, geriatric and adolescent health.
3.2 Develop programs for statewide access to resources of the UW-Madison health sciences library for community-based faculty.
3.3 Coordinate information about continuing education offerings for rural providers and for public health professionals.
3.4 Provide support for the work of the activities of the Rural Training Track Work Group
3.5 Provide support for the development of a new program through the UW Medical School Dept. of Population Health, offering a public health continuing education curriculum and, potentially, an MPH degree program, available via distance technology for practicing health professionals throughout Wisconsin.

Program Area 4
Partnering with local organizations for outreach activities to improve the health of the community.

Objectives
4.1 Collaborate with the Dept. of Health and Family Services on addressing health priorities identified in the Turning Point state health plan process
4.2 Support tobacco prevention and oral health initiatives
4.3 Develop programs for education of vulnerable populations regarding effective use of primary care providers; health promotion and disease prevention. Continue to work with local communities and providers to reduce non-financial barriers to care.
4.4 Identify Wisconsin AHEC resources, roles and responsibilities in assisting the Division of Public Health in responding to bio-terrorism initiatives.

Program Area 5
Special Statewide Initiatives
Statewide Initiatives are reviewed annually by the Wisconsin AHEC System Board. Current Initiatives are outlined below.

Statewide Oral Health Initiative
With the leadership of Milwaukee AHEC, the Wisconsin AHEC System will continue to work with Marquette University School of Dentistry to develop their capacity for training students in community-based sites and developing in students an awareness of the oral health crisis in our community and encouraging an ethic of serving underserved populations. Activities will include further development of the Oral Health Website, training workshops for community dentist-preceptors, the tele-dentistry initiative, addressing the barriers to care for Medicaid patients and working with the NHSC dental program in Wisconsin. Eastern AHEC will continue its oral health data collection project with the Dept. of Health and Family Services. All four centers will continue participation in the Seal-a-Smile program.

Innovative Partnerships with Local Health Departments
Wisconsin AHEC will continue development of the Community Health Internship Program to address this initiative, providing real-life work experiences for students in a variety of public or private community health settings. Internships are designed to provide health professions students with a successful experience in a project related to their chosen career. The term of internships is usually six weeks, and each intern works under the tutorship of a mentor for project implementation and evaluation. Most internships occur during the summer months, although consideration will be given to developing internship opportunities during the academic year. The Milwaukee program will continue to expand. Eastern AHEC will partner with Milwaukee to offer opportunities for students in the southeast region and will develop opportunities for students in the northeast counties. Northern AHEC will develop public health internship opportunities in partnership with the UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point internship programs. Southwest AHEC will develop an internship program in partnership with La Crosse area health professions programs.

Health Care Workforce initiative
Continue leadership role with Wisconsin Healthcare Workforce Coalition. Maintain collaboration with statewide organizations such as the Wisconsin Nurses Association, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association, other Wisconsin regional AHECs, other professional groups and PR/marketing firms, continue development of public information and education materials, videos and TV ads, and marketing strategies to inform Wisconsin citizens about health care career opportunities.

Program Area 6
Ongoing programs and collaborations, including partnering with other statewide organizations and consortia that share our mission.

Statewide linkages and collaborations on behalf of the Wisconsin AHEC System will be maintained and enhanced, including work with the Office of Rural Health, the Geriatric Education Center, the Wisconsin Public Health Association and the Wisconsin Primary Care Association, the Division of Public Health and local health departments. AHEC's role in improving health and health care in Wisconsin will be constantly reviewed. Relationships will be developed, leading to new collaborative programs and revenue streams to support them, partnering with other organizations in joint activities, and coordinating communication with state and local policy makers.

The viability of the Centers and the System plus the eligibility for federal and state AHEC funding will be maintained by educating legislative and policy makers on the importance of serving AHEC's mission and developing additional funding sources.

Summary

Our goal is to develop Wisconsin's healthcare workforce at all levels so that it

• is sufficient in number and training to provide high quality care in all areas of the state
• is distributed so that it meets the needs of individual communities, institutional settings and larger geographic areas that are currently underserved
• reflects the diversity of the state's population
• is skilled at meeting the needs of patients from various cultural backgrounds

The Wisconsin AHEC System has had significant accomplishments in the past ten years. We have established a statewide system of community-academic partnerships to conduct health professions education, with four regional AHECs covering the entire state. We have developed extensive involvement in AHEC programs on the part of medicine, nursing, dentistry social work and other health professions schools around the state. Finally we have established an effective statewide administration, and developed state, private and local support that will position us well as we move off federal funding.

The outlook for self-sufficiency for Wisconsin AHEC is excellent: the programs selected for model funding are weighted heavily to those that require development activities. When new programming is up and running, the Wisconsin AHEC System has demonstrated that these programs can be sustained through the balanced funding support that is maintaining our basic programming portfolio. The regional centers and Wisconsin AHEC system have successfully cultivated strong state funding support, increasing institutional support, and new sources of external funds through grants and contracts in recent years. The Wisconsin AHEC System, wherever possible, has used federal funds for start up or new program development costs, helping to transition ongoing program maintenance to institutional or state support. The programs selected for model funding were chosen not only because they address specific state and federal needs, but because they have higher early development needs with excellent potential for future sustainability once they are implemented.

The Wisconsin AHEC System is committed to an ongoing collaboration that will allow us to effectively meet our mission, establish productive communities around the state, and serve as a national model. We are confident that we are implementing our system in a way that positions AHEC to be a key contributor to the creation of healthier communities across Wisconsin. Model AHEC funding for 2002-2005 will provide the Wisconsin AHEC System with the margin of excellence for programs to enhance the education of Wisconsin health profession students and improve the health of the citizens of Wisconsin.